Notre Dame's Kiel 'for sure' not thinking transfer

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- Gunner Kiel didn't look like he was going anywhere, anyway, leaned back on one orange Sun Life Stadium seat with his legs dangling over another in front of him.

And while outsiders have done the math of Everett Golson's eligibility versus Kiel's and wondered about the touted recruit's future, Kiel calculates he'll stay at Notre Dame. The freshman said he "for sure" will be in spring practice for the Irish looking to push a starter just one class ahead of him.

"It's been a learning experience, for sure," Kiel said at BCS championship Media Day.

"But it's made me a lot better. I've been patient, and I've been waiting, and during spring ball I hope to come out and show what I have. At the same time, it's a great opportunity for me to come in and experience all this, experience an undefeated season and playing in a national championship. I couldn't be more happy or blessed to be here."

Asked specifially if the idea of transferring crossed his mind, Kiel replied: "It honestly hasn't. I've been more focused on the season and more focused on school and other things that are more important to me."

And so the former five-star recruit from Columbus, Ind., will toil away in the offseason looking to unseat a quarterback who might be coming off a national championship in Golson.

Should both Golson and Kiel play out their eligibility, and should Golson not lose his gig along the way, Kiel theoretically would have just one season as the starter for Notre Dame. That math is daunting for a competitive, talented prospect, but Kiel tried to shrug it off.

"You have to think about it like anything could happen," Kiel said. "(Golson) could go to the NFL, you never know. He could also get hurt. Other people could get hurt. There are so many doors that could be opened, I just have to be patient and wait my turn and just try to get better."

Irish coach Brian Kelly made a point to tell Sports Illustrated for a cover story last month that he would open up the competition in spring to include Kiel and keep the pressure on Golson to improve. As for Kiel's view on unseating Golson?

"I'm going to try," Kiel said. "But he's a great quarterback, and he's going to keep getting better. so I need to keep getting better and learn from him and also learn from coach Kelly and just try to keep getting better each day."

It was a year ago that Kiel was committed to LSU, a team playing for a national title, and preparing to compete in the U.S. Army All-American Game. Now here he was, a freshman backup for a Notre Dame team vying for a national title in days.

"It's so surreal and crazy," Kiel said. "You have to thank God for moments like this. It's crazy."

Asked if he second-guessed his decision to enroll at Notre Dame, Kiel didn't need to be patient to answer.